Meet Ballantyne's Staff
Brandi Bandoquillo, FNP-C
Brandi specializes in Family Practice with a special interest in natural approaches to medicine to improve overall quality of life. She currently holds a Masters Degree in Nursing with board certification from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. As a child she knew she had a passion for helping others and once graduating high school, she fell in love with all the possibilities of a career in nursing. She obtained her Associates Degree in Nursing in 2012 from Carolinas College of Health Sciences and never looked back. After graduation she moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she worked as a nurse for 11 years in the ICU and medical/ surgical setting at two large hospitals. While working as a nurse, she worked towards obtaining her BSN and most recently her Masters degree to further her knowledge. Once completing her masters degree from Advent Health University and moving back to the Charlotte area, she worked in primary care as a Family Nurse Practitioner before finding her true calling here at Medi-Weightloss. What she loves most about Medi-Weightloss is helping her patients gain back aspects of their life they felt were lost due to weight issues. She loves the positive, encouraging environment of Medi-Weightloss and teaching her patients healthy eating habits they can continue to follow for life. Brandi currently lives in Weddington and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, traveling, and reading a good book.
Taleya Durham, FNP-BC
Taleya Durham, FNP-BC was born in New York and grew up in the small town of Shelby, North Carolina. She is board-certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2017 and worked in Medical-Surgical and Women’s health settings for 5 years before transitioning to family practice and primary care as a Family Nurse Practitioner. In 2022, she completed her Master of Science in Nursing specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Winston-Salem State University. She has always been passionate about overall health, nutrition, and wellness, which brought her to Medi-Weightloss in May 2023. Taleya’s favorite part of the program is building strong relationships with her patients, offering support, guidance, and motivation throughout their weight loss journey. When she's not in the clinic, you can catch her trying new restaurants and new recipes with her fiancé, who she’s known since she was 17. Their mutual love for the gym and adventure keeps her on-the-go (which might be why napping comes in at a close second in her list of hobbies). The next time you see Taleya in the clinic ask her which Medi-approved restaurants are on her must-try list in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area!
Michael O'Planick, FNP-C
Mike is originally from Ohio and in 2009, he graduated from the University of Akron with a bachelor's degree in education. After teaching middle school science for three years, he decided to pursue a degree in nursing. He graduated from ECPI University in 2015 with an associate degree in nursing and from The University of North Carolina Wilmington with a bachelor's degree in nursing in 2017. As a registered nurse, Mike worked on a medical/surgical unit and in home health until he started graduate school at Walsh University in Canton, Ohio. He graduated from their family nurse practitioner program in 2021 and started off his career in urgent care before coming to Medi-Weightloss in June. He brings over seven years of health care experience and has a passion for helping others. He is excited to be a member of the Medi-Weightloss team and is looking forward to assisting clients reach their weight loss goals! In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He is also an avid golfer and guitarist.
Ayanna Robinson, FNP-C
Ayanna is a Family Nurse Practitioner who grew up in Northern Virginia. Ayanna received a Bachelor's degree in Health Science from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor's in nursing from the George Washington University. She worked in a high risk labor and delivery unit in Washington, DC before deciding to move on to a focus in family practice. She received her Master's degree from the University of Cincinnati. Upon graduation, she moved to Charlotte in order to be closer to her family. She loves traveling and going on trips with friends, reading, and trying out new restaurants. Her favorite part of working at Medi is being able to establish relationships with patients and watch them reach their weight loss goals in order to feel healthier and happier.